Red Hot Chili Peppers Cancel Show After Anthony Kiedis Hospitalized

The Red Hot Chili Peppers were forced to cancel a gig after lead singer Anthony Kiedis was hospitalized with reported stomach pains.

The rockers were due to play radio station KROQ's Weenie Roast show in Irvine, California, on Saturday night, but pulled out at the last minute.

"Unfortunately due to illness the @ChiliPeppers were forced to cancel their set tonight at #WeenieRoast. More details to come," KROQ announced on Twitter.com.

Fellow rockers Weezer stepped in to close the Weenie Roast festival, and Kiedis' bandmate Flea took to the stage to apologise to the crowd of 16,000 fans.

"Anthony is on the way to the hospital right now, and we're unable to play this evening," the bassist could be heard telling the crowd in a fan video posted to Instagram.com on Saturday. "We are devastated about it. We're really sad. We love you so much.

"We live to f**king dig deep into the depths of our hearts and rock, but unfortunately, there’s a medical thing that happened, and he needed to deal with it."

Drummer Chad Smith posted a touching get well note to Kiedis on Twitter after the band were forced to abandon their planned set. He wrote: "NO one's more disappointed than us that we couldn't perform tonight. Sending love and a speedy recovery to my brother Anthony."

A representative for KROQ told editors at Billboard.com that Kiedis was rushed to hospital in an ambulance from the venue due to suffering from extreme stomach pain. The reasons for his illness were not revealed.

Earlier this month, it was announced that the rockers would be soon releasing their first album in more than five years. The Getaway, their 11th studio album, is due for release on June 17.